Dutch natural pig producers: sedated castration

Natural pig producers in the Netherlands have
announced to start sedated castration as from July 1, 2007.

The pig producers, attached to the Dutch Organisation for Natural Pig
Producers (VBV), would like to prove that they are pioneers in animal welfare.
Tests into sedated castration have been going on since July last
year.

The costs of sedated castration is €0.66 to €1.25 per young
boar, dependent of the farm management.

The VBV has 53 members in all
of the Netherlands, representing about 90% of all Dutch natural pig
producers. On a yearly basis, they castrate about 300,000 piglets.